Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
For Independent Minded People!
ISSN 2161-5543
In
This Issue:
1. Like a shotgun blast to my middle
2. Boomers struggling to recover
3. Digital media – pros and cons
4. Spy pills, toothbrush saliva &
government databases
"The
Democrats and Republicans stand at two extremes, characterized by which
parts of our lives they emphasize their desire to control. Libertarians reject
both extremes in favor of the government leaving control of your life to you."
-- Michael Badnarik
parts of our lives they emphasize their desire to control. Libertarians reject
both extremes in favor of the government leaving control of your life to you."
-- Michael Badnarik
A
Shotgun blast to the middle…
I’m finally home after nearly three weeks in the hospital
getting heart bypass surgery. Now, at
home I’m still hooked up to a monitor and have nurses arranged to visit. I have a lengthy recovery period to look
forward to. I feel like one of those
guys in the movies who gets a shotgun blast to the middle of the chest,
crashing him into a wall.
Better than Great staff
and heart surgeon (Cleveland Clinic trained) at McLaren Systems…reminded me of
a visit to the United Nations however.
Folks from all over the world still migrate here to seek freedom and
some kind of living. Still, during my
conversations with nurses and other staff, it’s evident they’re frustrated with
how a middle class lifestyle is slipping away…fewer benefits, no pensions,
etc.
During the nights of the
televised debates, 100% of the staff I spoke with commented on how they no
longer trust Washington politicians or the ‘system.’ Typical were comments such as “those bastards
haven’t a clue how most of us live and not one of them gave up their raise or
benefits during these rough years-no leadership by example.”
I’m pretty certain too
I’ll be facing additional challenges by applying for disability benefits. You can bet your vote if it happened to a
Congressman, it would not present the same set of problems!
Finally, if you ever need
reviews about a doctor, make use of free sites such as Vitals.com and
HealthGrades.com or to find top doctors in your area, visit:
Health.USNews.com/top-doctors
In future issues, I’ll
share some health tips I picked up from the healthcare providers who helped me.
Move your clocks back one hour as Standard
time begins at 2am on Sunday Nov. the 4th.
PM’s
Compendium of Useful Resources
Boomers and the Great Recession: Struggling to Recover
This AARP Public Policy Institute research report examines how boomers fared during and after recent recession. It is based on the findings of two on-line surveys of a random sample of boomers aged 50 to 64 who were in the labor force in October 2010 or who had been in it at some point in the previous three years—roughly since the start of the recession in December 2007.
The report confirms that many boomers have had a very rough ride over the past several years. The recession and its aftermath have left many without jobs, having exhausted their savings, and with homes they can neither afford nor sell. The surveys indicate that boomers are uncertain about what the future holds for them as they edge toward retirement.
Although anxiety on the part of the unemployed and even those recently employed after a spell of unemployment would not be surprising, majorities of even the steadily employed expressed concern about, for example, being able to maintain a reasonable standard of living in retirement, having enough money to pay for adequate health care, or depleting all their savings. Nor did they expect to do as well as their parents or people of their parents’ generation in retirement.
Digital Media Pros & Cons
Digital media has made
information easier to gather and present.
It’s also cheaper to update, package and ship, especially for
Cloud-based information. I was
especially happy when CD ROM and DVD’s became available to a mass market.
The introduction of Kindle
readers had me shaking my head. I did
not think it would catch on. After all,
I thought, who would spend up to $200 for a device which needed batteries and
was expensive to replace? But then
again, I never thought Americans would shell out $5 for a cup of over rated
coffee from Starbucks.
Nonetheless, Kindle
readers have caught on, despite the challenges it has presented to
publishers…too many formats, not enough ‘early adopters,’ reluctance to invest
in untested waters, etc.
But, like so-called ‘Smart
Phones,’ which are easily monitored by government authorities, expensive to
replace, and prone to thieves (especially with the introduction of Smart
Wallets) nearly 51% of the American public loves these high priced gadgets.
With the inclusion of
cameras on phones, we’ve seen an explosion of instant movies appearing
everywhere from local and national media outlets to Facebook and YouTube –
everyone has become a movie producer!
Whereas Amazon champions
digital books, eBay remains wary of digital media in that it won’t allow
instant download products in most categories except in its high priced
classified listings.
This policy forced many
sellers to create digital products using the compact disc format which requires
additional shipping costs. I could just as easily upload files into a Cloud
service for immediate download as I do for my Premier subscribers or send
content out in zip format as an email attachment, saving time and money.
There are many folks who
do not like either method of distribution, instant download or CD ROM…they want
printed books. In many ways, I’m in that
camp, but printing and shipping has become an expensive route to go which is
why new, mass market softbound novels have an average retail price of $11.95 today
versus $4.95 or less for a Kindle version.
Decades ago when digital
watches first came on the market, they retailed for $200. Now you can find digital watches on clearance
for $5. My guess is something like this
will take place with Kindle readers and even high end cell phones. As the market gets flooded with similar
brands and products, prices will drop.
Long term, my guess is
everyone will be implanted with a chip and built-in reader device where they
(and the government) can instantly access everything from their money to movies
and friends…I’ll pass on that future.
What do you think?
Using Saliva from Your Toothbrush
for Facial Recognition
Scientists have identified five
specific genes linked to facial shape and features. Initial DNA studies from
the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands help
researchers predict features such as hair, skin, the space between the eyes and
bridge of the nose, nose length, width between checks bones, and even eye color.
Scientists also discovered how
specific genes influence "the gap between the centers of each eye
socket being narrower by just 9 millimeters," according to the website
New Scientist.
This research is in its
preliminary stages, however, the scientists believe their ability will improve
as they identify additional genes that affect facial construction. As this
research advances, a small DNA sample such as a strand of hair from a comb or
saliva from a toothbrush could be enough to create a "police sketch"
of your face.
Protect your pets from the cold
Temps of 45 F and lower
can be dangerous for pets if they’re left outside too long. On cold days outfit your dog with a coat to
keep the animal’s core warm and to help the rest of the body heat up.
The Nanny State Updates…
Government
Has More Data On an Average American Than Stasi Did On East Germans
We’ve written plenty about how
the US government has been quite
aggressive in spying on Americans. It has
been helped along by a court system that doesn’t seem particularly concerned
about the 4th Amendment and by the growing ability of private companies to have
our data and
to then share it with the government at will. Either way, in a radio interview, Wall Street Journal reporter Julia Angwin (who’s been one of
the best at covering the surveillance state in the US) made a simple
observation that puts much of this into context: the US surveillance regime has
more data on the average American
than the Stasi ever did on East Germans. And, of course, as we’ve already seen,
much of that data seems to be collected illegally with little oversight… and with absolutely no security benefit.
Spy Pills Snitch If You Haven't
Been Taking Your Medicine...
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
is approving "tiny, indigestible microchips capable of being embedded
within drugs prescribed by doctors so that patients can be monitored remotely."
These sensors are the size of a
grain of sand and made of silicon, magnesium, and copper. It reacts to the
digestive juices and actually generates a small electrical impulse that sends
out a signal through the body. A special patch can be worn on the skin that
reads the signal and simultaneously sends a message to a healthcare provider's
mobile phone!
The Parting Thought-
The Rise of American Incompetence...
We used to be the
world's most skillful entrepreneurs and managers. Now we're laughingstocks.
What happened?
Patronizing
a Casino where the House uses a stacked deck is not a very good idea. If the
House (Congress) permits the people to vote on who will deal the cards, the
results will remain the same as long as the dealers are employed by the Casino
(International Bankers)
Changing
the dealers only gives us the illusion that we are in control. We need to
return to the principles of liberty and individual responsibility. We need to
reclaim our freedom by reaffirming the Declaration of Independence.
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